CHAPTER 2: High School…Hell, or Heaven on Earth?
Familiarity was now a foreign word to me as I entered the door of the high school. A new name and a new face…yet another new student without friends in a strange place. This was only the beginning, as I wasn't aware of the things to come. It made matters worse, being only a freshman.
I entered the door of my first period class, Spanish. Then began the initial rituals of getting settled into that class at a new school; getting my new life rolling, so to speak. The teacher, who I wasn't very fond of to begin with, told me to take a seat behind the only other freshman in the class. I didn't think much of him, other than he was remotely attractive. Little did I know how my life would change from that moment.
He turned around to face me, and he looked me directly in the eyes. "What's up, new guy?" He asked in a kind tone. I could only muster one word. "Hey," I responded, seemingly uninterested. "So where are you from?" He asked another question, trying to keep the conversation going. "Colorado." There was a brief pause. "Oh yeah, I used to live there when I was younger." I could only let out an affirmative grunt. "I'm Alex," He said warmly to me. "Nice to meet you." He smiled before turning back around in his seat.
This brief encounter was the only time I talked to Alex for several months. Our paths didn't cross again until three months later, after a short experience (that I backed out of, of course,) when my feelings for my future lover grew stronger, to the point where I began to work on gaining his trust.
I also remember meeting Sarah that first fateful day at my new school. She was a girl with an almost annoyingly bubbly personality. At the time, I didn't know why. She was a junior, and quite intelligent, at least in matters of school subjects. The encounter was much the same as with Alex; I attempted to be elusive and withdrawn. Later, I learned that we were the same, in terms of our sexuality. She had a girlfriend, Jamie. I never knew much about her, nor did I try to get to know her at all. Once I found out about Sarah's preferences, I began to open up to her more, and I told her about my feelings for Alex.
---------------------THREE MONTHS LATER--------------------
"Go talk to him!" Sarah constantly told me. "I don't know what he'll say," was my defense, every time. It has been three months since we've last spoken to each other at any sort of length; since we've looked each other in the eyes and really had a conversation. "It's not like he won't talk to you. Come on!" "Sarah, what if he gets suspicious?" These conversations became more and more common as time went on before I talked to Alex. After many tense weeks of dealing with the mounting fear, and trying to build up the courage, I talked to Alex.